The Belmont Abbey Crusaders opened Conference Carolinas play against Pfeiffer at Ferebee Field with a 9-2 over Pfeiffer that extended the Crusaders unbeaten streak to nine games.

After a scoreless first frame for both clubs, Kennan Stanley hit a no-doubt, solo homer to left centerfield, to put the Crusaders up 1-0. Pfeiffer would answer in the bottom of the frame as Jon Gray hit his second homer of the year with a solo shot to dead center. Cody Stull would battle toe-to-toe with Brian Tuttle as the teams moved to the sixth inning deadlocked at a run apiece.

The sixth would be the inning that was the difference for the Abbey as Ian Vazquez ripped a single through the right side of the infield. Emilio Pagan followed with a bunt single that hugged the first base line, allowing the eventual go-ahead run to reach scoring position. With one out, Quinn Hawksworth hit a low trajectory missile that disappeared over the left centerfield fence to give the Crusaders a lead they would refuse to relinquish.

The bottom of the sixth saw the Falcons mount a rally that drew them a run closer with two outs. Daniel Furr would drive home Jacob Yates with a hard hit ball to center. After a Kevin Price single and a John Brown Jr. free pass, Coach Scott Brickman called on Kyle Rogers to quell the threat. With Aarin Sharpe at the plate, Michael Falsetti threw behind Brown Jr., where Emilio Pagan would apply the tag to retire the side. The play by Falsetti was his second of three runners gunned out on the day. The play was a turning point for the Crusaders, as it not only eliminated the last substantive threat for Pfeiffer, but jumpstarted the offense to close the game out with five unanswered runs.

After scoring a single run in the seventh, Ryan Allen doubled to left plating two runs, and Allen would eventually score along with Conor Kwalwasser to round out the scoring in the eighth. Kyle Rogers would nail down the final six outs to record his second save of the year (3.1 IP, 0 ER).

Cody Stull picked up the win on 5.2 innings of work. The junior from Matthews allowed two runs, both earned, while scattering eight hits. Vazquez, Stanley and Allen each had multi-hit games for the Crusaders, as the Abbey also reached double figures in hits for the ninth consecutive game.

The Crusaders continue their three game set with Pfeiffer Sunday at noon with a double header. The game is being moved back a day due to the wintry weather heading into the central piedmont of North Carolina. WGNC 1450am will carry both games, beginning with the pregame show at 1145 a.m. For those looking for the game online, log onto www.wgnc.net for more information. Follow the Crusaders throughout 2013 on twitter: @abbeyathletics, and www.abbeyathletics.com .